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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Doctor: Pit bulls, Rottweilers dangerous

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Tuesday March 2, 2010

Maternal response may aid autism language
Doctor: Pit bulls, Rottweilers dangerous
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Maternal response may aid autism language

MIAMI (UPI) -- University of Miami researchers say maternal sensitivity may influence language development among children who go on to develop autism.

Daniel Messinger of the University of Miami, the principal investigator of a larger study of infants at risk for autism that includes this study, says the study examines how early parenting can promote resiliency in this population.

"Language problems are among the most important areas to address for children with autism, because they represent a significant impairment in daily living and communication," Messinger said in a statement.

Maternal sensitivity is defined in the study as a combination of warmth, responsiveness to the child's needs, respect for his or her emerging independence, positive regard for the child, and maternal structuring, or how a mother engages and teaches her child. For example, if a child is playing with colored rings, the mother might say, "This is the green ring," thus teaching her child about his environment, Messinger says.

The study, published online ahead of print in the upcoming Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, says maternal sensitivity was more predictive of language growth among toddlers developing autism than among children who did not go on to an autism diagnosis.

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Doctor: Pit bulls, Rottweilers dangerous

ATLANTA (UPI) -- Pit bulls and Rottweilers that attacked children often belonged to the family or the neighbors, a pediatric surgeon in Atlanta said.

"People get this false sense of security" because they know the dog and think it won't hurt anyone, said Dr. Mark Wulkan of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Last year, 29 seriously injured children were admitted to Wulkan's hospital for injuries caused by dogs. Dozens of other children were treated in his emergency room for bites.

One child's scalp and ears had been torn off and other children suffered skull injuries, damaged tracheas and face wounds. Several children died, including a 5-day-old baby mauled by the family's pit bull, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Wednesday.

Pit bulls and Rottweilers caused the most serious injuries among the children treated at Children's Healthcare, Wulkan said.

"With German shepherds, they bite you and then that's it," Wulkan said. "Pit bulls and Rottweilers, once they go, they're going for the kill."

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